Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
With increased winds and plenty of snow available for transport, we observed some overlapping avalanche problems on 3/16 in the Western Wallowas. Warming temperatures on Sunday (3/16) elevated the storm slab danger at lower elevations, while at mid and upper elevations Wind Slabs were our primary concern.
I intentionally triggered a small wind slab on a steep rollover in a safe location.Weather
- Air Temp
- 30
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Rain Elevation
- 4000
- Recent Snowfall
- 15
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Weather was stormy with moderate wind steady from the SW loading and transporting moderate amounts of snow.
Snowpack
Storm snow from previous days (Thur-Sat) measured around 1' or 30cm for the Western Wallowas, with another 6" Saturday night into Sunday morning. The most recent snow was heavier, creating an upside-down snowpack, accompanied by wind loading which intensified Sunday. On a safe test slope I was able to trigger a small freshly developed wind slab, which then caused the storm slab below to also crack. The storm slab arrested on the slope and didn't travel downhill.